Summary:

Notorious electrical issues, extremely difficult to diagnose

Faults:

Bought this truck at 200,000 miles. Has already had the transmission rebuilt, so that failed around 190k.

I have owned this truck for 5 months, and it currently is not running (again). It has major electrical issues, I hear Nissan is notorious for this. I have been having problems with my charging system for 3/5 months that I have owned it. I replace the alternator, it works for a day, then bam, the charging system is bad again. So I replace all battery cables and the alternator ground, and fixed the wiring harness on the positive battery terminal, because like almost all the wires on this truck, they were heavily corroded. I have pretty much replaced every component of the charging system, and something else just keeps popping up. It's the same problem over and over, no matter what I fix.

I paid 2000 for this truck, and have paid about 600 in repairs.

Keep in mind that I do all my own repairs; if I were to take it in, these repairs would be upwards of 1500-2000 dollars.

The truck gets good gas mileage (about 20 for the 4x4 5 speed in town) but the 4cyl lacks power and it has a little bit of a hard time up hills.

Summary:

Faults:

Learned to drive stick on it, and taught all my friends to drive stick on it, so the clutch went at 75K. $175 (did it myself).

Replaced headliner around 100k. $100 at a specialty shop (it's a small roof)

Replaced starter @ 110k. $145 (did it myself).

Harmless timing chain rattle.

Valve tappets tick a bit (easy fix).

Washer fluid reservoir cap has disappeared.

Dash light fuse blows every now and then.

General Comments:

First off, it's a 12 valve engine guys, not 16.

This truck has seen every corner of Texas, and has never left me stranded.

I received this truck when I was 17 years old and have driven it very hard for almost a decade. I did every stupid thing you could do to a vehicle. I have been trail riding in it several times in the deserts of west Texas, in the muddy hills of east Texas and the beaches of the Texas coast. (its 2 wheel drive mind you) I have been airborne in the truck countless times. Still the truck keeps on going.

I have been in several accidents (not my fault... well maybe one) the truck has never been totaled because body parts are cheap and it has retained so much of its value.

Still the truck runs excellent.

The last year and a half, 2009-2010, the truck has been used sparingly as to not put too many miles on it. I plan to have this truck for a very long time as it is very sentimental. I replace parts as I see fit for cosmetic reasons or comfort features, mainly suspension parts, all new bushings, drop spindles, lowered leaf springs and shocks (no more hopping curbs!)